Grommet for coupling battery modules

ABSTRACT

A grommet for coupling battery modules includes two coupling portions. A hinge portion connects the coupling portions at first ends thereof. A first hook structure connects the coupling portions at second ends thereof. A second hook structure connects the coupling portions at centers thereof. When the hook structures are hooked, the grommet defines two battery module receiving spaces therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0061081, filed on Jun. 21, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a grommet for coupling two battery modules together.

(b) Background Art

Typically, a battery unit including two or more battery modules is mounted in a hybrid vehicle or in an electric vehicle such as a fuel cell vehicle. The battery modules should be coupled to each other at regular intervals.

A typical grommet includes two components coupled to each other. The number and cost of components, as well as the time and cost of assembly, are thus unnecessarily high. Moreover, the strength of the connection between the components may not be sufficient.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art that is already known to a person skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A grommet for coupling battery modules includes two coupling portions. A hinge portion connects the coupling portions at first ends thereof. A first hook structure connects the coupling portions at second ends thereof. A second hook structure connects the coupling portions at centers thereof. When the hook structures are hooked, the grommet defines two battery module receiving spaces therein.

The first ends of the coupling portions may include notches such that the hinge portion is separated from the remainder of the first ends.

The hinge portion's ends may be thicker than its central portion.

The second hook structure may include at least one hook protruding from one of the coupling portions, and at least one hole in the other coupling portion. The hole may have a hook engaging projection therein, configured for the hook to be inserted into the hole and engaged with the hook engaging projection. The hook may include a reinforcing rib.

The first hook structure may include a hook protruding from one of the coupling portions, and a hook engaging projection on the other coupling portion, configured for the hook to be engaged thereon. The hook and the hook engaging projection may be tapered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing two battery modules coupled to each other by exemplary grommets;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing battery modules coupled by exemplary grommets loaded in a battery holder;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary grommet;

FIGS. 5 to 8 are detailed diagrams of an exemplary hinge portion between two coupling portions of a grommet;

FIGS. 9 to 11 are detailed diagrams of an exemplary hook engaging structure between middle portions of a grommet; and

FIGS. 12 to 15 are detailed diagrams of an exemplary hook engaging structure between end portions of a grommet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the drawings attached hereinafter, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below so as to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

The present invention provides a grommet for coupling two battery modules to constitute a single battery unit.

The grommet for coupling battery modules of the present invention is composed of a single component. A hinge portion is provided on one end, and hook engaging structures are provided to the other end and to the middle portion.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a grommet 100 is provided at each of the front end portion, the middle portion, and the rear end portion of two battery modules 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, when several battery modules 11 are loaded in a battery holder 12, the grommets 100 maintain equal spacing between each battery module 11.

Referring to FIG. 4, in which (a) shows a state before coupling portions 110 and 120 are assembled with each other, and (b) shows a state after the coupling portions 110 and 120 are assembled with each other, the grommet 100 comprises two coupling portions 110 and 120 connected to each other by a hinge portion 121 (not depicted in FIG. 4). The coupling portions 110 and 120 form two circular battery module receiving portions 111 when assembled.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the hinge portion 121 is shown. Especially as shown in FIG. 6, the hinge portion 121 has relatively thick ends, indicated at d1, and a thinner center, indicated at d2. This structure ensures maximum flexibility in the center of the hinge portion 121, where the maximum bending occurs. For example, d1 may be about 0.7 mm and d2 may be about 0.3 mm.

The two coupling portions 110 and 120 are connected only at the hinge portion 121. End surfaces 112 and 122 of the two coupling portions 110 and 120 are divided from each other, such as by the inclined shapes shown, to facilitate rotation of the coupling portions 110 and 120 when being opened, and there may be a gap, e.g., 0.2 mm, between the end surfaces 112 and 122.

Referring to FIG. 5, cut portions 113 and 123 are provided on the ends of the coupling portions 110 and 120 such that both ends of the hinge portion 121 are separated from the end portions of the coupling portions 110 and 120, ensuring sufficient length of the hinge portion 121 to facilitate bending.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, two fixing hooks 114 protrude from the middle portion of one of the coupling portions 110, and two hook engaging projections 125, with which the fixing hooks 114 are engaged, are provided on the other coupling portion 120. The fixing hooks 114 are inserted into rectangular holes 124 in the coupling portion 120, and are engaged with the hook engaging projections 125 on the inner walls of the holes 124.

Referring to FIG. 10, during assembly, when the fixing hooks 114 are inserted into the holes 124, inclined surfaces 114 a and 125 a on the fixing hook 114 and the hole 124, respectively, are in contact with each other such that the fixing hooks 114 are pushed inwardly and, then, the two fixing hooks return outward to their original positions by the elastic force thereof and are engaged with the hook engaging projections 125.

The fixation strength of the hooks 114 is high without any externally protruding portions and thus it is possible to prevent the separation of the grommet 100 and increase the fixation strength of the battery modules. Preferably, a hook reinforcing rib 115 (FIG. 10) protrudes from the inner wall of the fixing hook 114 such that the fixing hook 114 is more firmly engaged with the hook engaging projection 125. As a result, the fixation strength is higher yet.

Referring to FIGS. 12-15, a fixing hook 126 protrudes from the middle portion of one of the coupling portions 120, and a hook engaging projection 116 (FIGS. 13 and 15), with which the fixing hook 126 is engaged, is provided on the other coupling portion 110.

As shown in FIG. 12, since the end portions positioned opposite the hinge portion 121 are thin, the hook engaging structure is provided above the center of the grommet 100. That is, the fixing hook 126 protrudes upward, and the hook engaging projection 116 is disposed high on the upper coupling portion 110, providing a stable hook engaging structure.

Preferably, an engaging surface 126 a of the fixing hook 126 and an engaging surface 116 a of the hook engaging projection 116 are tapered to increase the engaging force and prevent the separation of the fixing hook 126. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the engaging surfaces 126 a and 116 a each has a reverse taper angle of about 5°.

As described above, the grommet for coupling battery modules in accordance with the present invention is composed of a single component, in which two coupling portions are connected by a hinge portion. Moreover, with superior hook engaging structures at the middle and ends of the coupling portions, the coupling portions are firmly connected to each other. Accordingly, separation of the grommet is prevented. Moreover, the manufacturing cost is reduced by a reduction in the number of components.

The invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A grommet for coupling battery modules, comprising: two coupling portions; a hinge portion connecting the coupling portions at first ends thereof; a first hook structure, connecting the coupling portions at second ends thereof; and a second hook structure, connecting the coupling portions at centers thereof; wherein when the hook structures are hooked, the grommet defines at least two battery module receiving spaces therein.
 2. The grommet for coupling battery modules of claim 1, wherein the first ends of the coupling portions comprise notches such that the hinge portion is separated from a remainder of the first ends.
 3. The grommet for coupling battery modules of claim 1, wherein the hinge portion comprises two ends and a central portion, wherein the ends are thicker than the central portion.
 4. The grommet for coupling battery modules of claim 1, wherein the second hook structure comprises at least one hook protruding from one of the coupling portions, and at least one hole in the other coupling portion, the hole comprising a hook engaging projection therein, configured for the hook to be inserted into the hole and engaged with the hook engaging projection.
 5. The grommet for coupling battery modules of claim 4, wherein the hook comprises a reinforcing rib.
 6. The grommet for coupling battery modules of claim 1, wherein the first hook structure comprises a hook protruding from one of the coupling portions, and a hook engaging projection on the other coupling portion configured for the hook to be engaged thereon.
 7. The grommet for coupling battery modules of claim 6, wherein the hook and the hook engaging projection are tapered. 